The proposed Gallipoli Star: (another viewpoint)

by Colonel David Chinn as printed in SABRETACHE - 1993 VOL XXXIV JULY/SEPTEMBER  

Negotiations took place between the British Government and the Australian and New Zealand Governments from late 1917 to late 1918 for the issue of a decoration to Australian and New Zealand troops who served in Gallipoli. 

These negotiations were finally abandoned because the decoration (the Gallipoli Star) was not to be awarded to other Empire troops who also served at Gallipoli.

Gallipoli Star

1914/15 Star

The latest action has been a private venture which has produced the Star in sufficient quantity to allow presentation, prior to Anzac Day 1990, to surviving Australian veterans of Gallipoli, from proceeds of sales of the remainder of the Stars to collectors and others. It was in anticipation of enquires expected to be generated by this 75th Anniversary, as well as this private venture, that this paper was prepared. 

Reference 

The primary reference for this paper has been the DOD file 448-6-2554 (1919-1937), held by Australian Archives (Melbourne) in the series MP367, Bundle No 31. A photocopy of that file is held by DEGP, MAT DIV, Army Office. This paper is based on material available as at 11 April 1990. As and if further reference material is received from sources, primarily UK and New Zealand, it may need to be revised. 

As early as 1916, questions were asked in Parliament in Britain as to whether a special decoration would be issued to British troops who had fought in Gallipoli. The Government's reply was that it was too early to take decisions about the award of medals for the war still in progress. The view of the British War Office expressed in I917 was that in conformity with the views expressed by the King, the number of different medals for the British Army should be quite limited. Although the idea of granting a separate medal for each theatre of war was considered, this was found to be impracticable. 

There was concern if such a system was instituted that some soldiers who had fought continuously in one theatre would receive only one medal while others who had spent time travelling between different theatres would receive three or four medals. The preferred War Office solution was therefore for the issue of only two medals/decorations for the British Army. 

• These would be: 
  • an international medal, i.e. one of similar design issued by all the Allied powers thus overcoming problems of inter-Allied awards, for which clasps for battles or localities could be issued; (later named Victory Medal)
  • and a British medal to be issued to all officers and enlisted personnel of the British, the Dominion, Indian and Colonial armies. (Later named British War Medal)

British War Medal	Victory Medal

While members of the BEF were involved in heavy fighting until 22/23 November 1914, the  AIF had arrived in another theatre of war, under threat of Turkish attack, in the shadow of which it undertook extensive training. There was some discussion of the question of the award of medals at the Imperial War Conference in 1917 with the New Zealand representative being very insistent as to the desirability of awarding a special decoration to those who had left New Zealand (and Australia) in 1914 and had fought in Gallipoli. 

This view was reflected in subsequent messages to the UK. The Canadian and Newfoundland representatives agreed in theory but felt that all troops who had left their native land to fight overseas should be eligible for any such award, not just those involved in Gallipoli. How ever no firm decisions were taken.

On 2 October 1917, Lt-Gen Birdwood, in his appointment as GOC / ANZAC, cabled Defence HQ, Melbourne, on the subject of leave in Australia for original members of the AIF who had left Australia in 1914. Included in this cable was a final paragraph: 

"Realising what great difficulties there must consequently be suggest for your consideration that the 1914 medal which is about to be sanctioned for men who left England in the original Expeditionary Force during first months of the war should be extended to men of Australian and New Zealand Forces who left in 1914 with their original contingents (stop). This would doubtless not be as completely satisfactory all members of the Force, but from what I can gather from large numbers would go a long way toward granting desire of all ranks that their coming forward in first instance should receive special recognition and it would include those present at landing Anzac April 25th 1915 and would be appreciated enormously. I therefore suggest that this point of view should be urgently pressed on Imperial Government."

This proposal was apparently accepted by the Australian Government, as a cable was subsequently dispatched to the Secretary of State for the Colonies strongly urging that the 1914 medal "should be extended to men of Australian forces who left in 1914 with original contingents. This would include those present at landing Anzac 25th April 1915". (The suggestion that a particular operation -Gallipoli- should be singled out for special treatment caused the Canadian Government to reserve on behalf the right to make further representations of its soldiers should the award go ahead). The Secretary of State for the Colonies responded on 22 November 1917 by cable as follows: 

"Careful consideration has been given to suggestion that Australia and New Zealand should give some recognition to Australians and New Zealanders who left in 1914 and afterwards took part in the operations in Gallipoli. The decoration to be issued by the two Governments. Question has been discussed by Army Council and proposal has their full approval on condition that the decoration is only given to members of Australian Imperial Force or New Zealand Expeditionary Force. 

It has been submitted to His Majesty who has been graciously pleased to approve. It is his Majesty's wish that this mark of distinction should take form of a decoration such as is being given in the case of British Expeditionary Force 1914 rather than of a medal. Design and riband should be submitted His Majesty's approval; it should of course be quite distinct, from any past or present British decoration. Similar telegram has been sent to New Zealand."

The Comdt AIF HQ London, in following this development, indicated by cable on 22 November 1917 to Defence HQ Melbourne, that the Secretary for War, Lord Derby, had suggested that "two or three designs for the star and riband be submitted for King to make a selection". Lord Derby had also suggested that after agreement with New Zealand, designs of the riband (ribbon) should be cabled to AIF HQ for manufacture of samples for the King's approval. Designs for the star could be submitted later.

Concurrently in November 1917 the Secretary of State for War in Britain was approached by a representative of the Australian Government who suggested that the recognition of those Australian troops who left Australia in 1914 and fought in Gallipoli, by means of an award of some sort, was a critical factor in the outcome of the impending election in Australia where the question of conscription was being considered. The discussion between the Australian representative and the Secretary of State for War covered the possibility that, subject to the approval of the Sovereign, the Australian and New Zealand Governments should issue a special medal to the men who fell into this category. 

When the dust had settled this was the trio of medals awarded to Anzacs and others at Gallipoli.

At that time it was expected that the British troops who fought in Gallipoli would be awarded a clasp to one of the British war medals if the special committee on this subject so decided. Details of this discussion were circulated to the Army Council. Although the earlier idea of limiting the different number of medals available to the British Army to just two had only recently been breached by the award of the "1914 Star", the British authorities, especially in the War Office, still wished to limit further types of medals as far as possible. However one member of the Army Council noted that even if the British authorities wished, they could not prevent the Dominion Governments issuing any special medal.

On or about 1 December 1917 a cablegram was dispatched from Australia to New Zealand referring to the Secretary of State for the Colonies cable of 22 November 1917 and advising the views of Comdt AIF HQ. It was indicated that designs of star and ribbon would be forwarded when prepared, for the New Zealand Government views.

At this stage, the press appears to have become aware of the proposal, prompting the submission of designs for the award by at least two interested citizens: 

Mr. Merriman, Station Master at Lilydale, Vic: three designs for an Anzac Medal, each based on a seven pointed star, and a laurel wreath around a central circle; variations consisted of the suspension point being a crown, the AMF badge or plain, and the central circle containing "ANZAC" and "1914", with variations of crown, AMF badge and New Zealand fernleaf. 

Mr. Whitelocke, journalist of Mosman NSW: three designs - two crosses and one six-pointed star - each heavily emphasising the letters "ANZAC", the stars of the Southern Cross and mottoes on the theme of "King", "Flag" and "Home" in various arrangements.

At about the same time, on 6 December 1917,a Warrant officer R.K. Peacock, Military Staff Clerk, apparently on the staff of the Quarter Master-General (QMG) submitted a design for and description of what he titled "The Anzac Star". They are significant because Peacock was later to submit the design for the star finally selected, and because the title (as well as that of Mr. Merriman's designs reflected the trend towards a prime purpose of recognition of service in Gallipoli, and the lessening of the significance of 1914 expeditionary forces the original consideration by Lt-Gen Birdwood.

Lt-Gen Birdwood recommended by cable on 30 November 1917 that emblematic colours should be chosen for the ribbon and suggested gold or yellow to represent Australian wattle green for the New Zealand fern leaf, and blue the sea "upon which we depend"; for the star a seven-pointed pattern as for the Commonwealth star on the Ensign, was suggested the star to be of bronze with possibly a suitable silver design superimposed. The QMG on 3 December 1917 supported Lt-Gen Birdwood's recommendation in a minute to the Secretary for Defence proposing the text of a cable to be sent to the New Zealand Government. He recommended however substitution of an eight-pointed star instead, "as the seven-pointed star of the Australian ensign is considered to be representative of the seven states of the Commonwealth".

Press reports of the proposal, some titled "Gallipoli Star," meanwhile had prompted a number of letters to various newspapers, to the Secretary for Defence, MHR the Minister for Defence and ultimately the Prime Minister. 

• The issues addressed were: 
  • the inclusion of those who had landed in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 but had left Australia after 31 December 1914; and 
  • the inclusion of those who had landed in Gallipoli later in the campaign, some having served as members of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN and MEF) which annexed German New Guinea in late 1914. Later contingents included 2nd Australian Division and the Light Horse Brigades. 

These aspects were subject of telegrams between the Secretary and the Minister for Defence over the period 5 to 10 December 1917. The staff estimate of Australian troops involved in service in Gallipoli was 29,000 of those who left Australia in 1914 and 21,000 who left in 1915. A cablegram was dispatched to New Zealand on 12 December 1917, referring to the cablegram of 1 December 1917 and dealing only with Lt-Gen Birdwood's recommendation regarding ribbon colours and design of the star increased to eight or nine points. The question of conditions for award was left at those who had departed in 1914.

The Adjutant-General (AG) submitted a minute to the Secretary for Defence on 21 December 1917 discussing three courses open and recommending that the award should be given "to all ranks who took part in the Gallipoli operations at any time included in the period between their disembarkation in Egypt and the final date of the Gallipoli evacuation". He considered that "in accordance with usual custom, the area of the Gallipoli operations should include all line of communication troops of the Expeditionary Force".

On 22 December 1917,the New Zealand Governor General responded to the cablegram of 12  December 1917 and went straight to the key issue of conditions for award: 

"With reference to your cipher telegram December 17th, my government of opinion that decoration should be given to all Australian New Zealand troops taking part in the campaign and I am so informing the Secretary of State for Colonies". 

The Australian Government obviously accepted the New Zealand and AG viewpoints in dispatching a cablegram in similar terms on or about 14 January 1918 to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This was transmitted also o the Comdt AIF HQ London on 30 January 1918, indicating that consideration of the design would be expedited. The award had thus changed to one primarily recognising service in the Gallipoli campaign, regardless of year of departure from the homelands Australia or New Zealand.

However both the New Zealand and AG recommendations had the effect of including line of communication troops who had never set foot in Gallipoli. Meanwhile the New Zealand Government was reminded on or about 15 January 1918, and again about 23 February 1918 of the Australian Government's request for views on the ribbon and medal designs. The New Zealand Government's response regarding the colours of the ribbon and design of the star was received on 4 March 1918. 

That Government was prepared to leave the design of the star to the Australian Government, but preferred green and scarlet for its portion of the ribbon, "the former to represent the fern leaf, and the latter to represent the flower of the rata, a native New Zealand tree". This proposal was amended by a cablegram three days later, cancelling the colours notified and substituting "silver grey with lake crimson stripe". A letter dated 7 March 1918 followed, enclosing a sample of the proposed ribbon and giving reasons for the change. On 11 March 1918, a cablegram was dispatched asking if the Australian Government would agree to a crimson lake stripe on the yellow of the Australian "half of the ribbon, as well as on the silver gray of the New Zealand "half'.

On 16 March 1918, WO Peacock submitted his design for the Gallipoli Star, reflecting the colours for the ribbon as developed above and including light-blue as the centre colour. 

On 4 April 1918, the QMG by minute provided the Secretary for Defence with detailed specifications for the ribbon and star. This detail was cabled on 19 April 1918 to the New  Zealand Government for concurrence, also proposing that the star be awarded only to those who had actually landed in Gallipoli. The New Zealand Government concurred by cablegram on 29 April 1918,and on or about 9 May 1918 a cablegram was dispatched to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with the same detail recommended. This was copied to Comdt AIF HQ on 10 June 1918.

• It should be noted that, contrary to the reference Ribbons and Medals by H. Taprell-Dorling, the colours were chosen for their significance as follows: 
  • Centre stripe: light blue -the sea (Aegean)
  • Intermediate stripes: crimson-flowering gum (Australia); rata flower (New Zealand)
  • Outer stripes: gold, the wattle (Australia); silver-grey-fern leaf (New Zealand).

It is of interest to note a copy of a cablegram from the Comdt. AIF HQ London to Defence HQ of 27 April 1918,dealing with AIF Order 1084, which amended AIF Orders 937 and 994.

These orders dealt with the award and wearing of a brass letter "A" on colour patches to indicate that the wearer had served at Anzac in Gallipoli. Order 1084 was issued by authority of a Defence HQ cable (WV430 of 9 January 1918) directing that the award of the letter "A" on colour patches was extended to those who had served: 

on the islands of Lemnos, Imbros or Tenedos, or who served on the transport or hospital ships at or off Gallipoli, or those islands, or in AIF lines of communications units from Egypt". 

The reason for the inclusion of this cablegram, on the subject of colour patch embellishment, 
on the Gallipoli Star file, relates to the distinction of service in Gallipoli as distinct from service "in the campaign" (see above). Lt-Gen Birdwood wished to represent the "point of view (that) personnel who "never left Egypt" should not be eligible for distinction awarded for Gallipoli service..." and in effect challenged the Defence HQ authority.

At about the same time the War Office prepared an internal memorandum which noted that the award of all orders, decorations and medals was essentially a Royal prerogative and that the War Office view sought only to reflect the view previously expressed by the King against his soldiers being awarded too many different decorations for the war. Although the award of a  special decoration to Empire troops who fought in the Gallipoli campaign would be contrary to the King's policy, in view of the King's original sanction of the award for Australian and New Zealand troops for Gallipoli, the Army Council considered that it was not within their province to offer any suggestion, or remark on this specific award. 

• Nevertheless the War Office considered that such an award presented certain anomalies in that such an award would be: 
  • unfair both to British soldiers who had fought in the same or other theatres and to other Empire troops who had fought in other theatres 
    • (The British Adjutant General had already received requests from one British division which fought in Gallipoli to be allowed to participate in the proposed Australian and New Zealand decoration); 
  • and inconsistent with one of the main principles which had hitherto governed the award of medals i.e. that these are awarded only for participation in a successful campaign; (the war office added that the Gallipoli campaign, although giving the opportunity for the  troops to "show splendid fighting attributes" could not be called successful. The recently awarded "1914 Star" was not considered to breach this latter rule as it commemorated the successful actions preventing the enemy from attaining definitive results in the First Battle of Ypres. 

Therefore the Army Council intended to maintain a firm attitude against any attempts to get a decoration for the British troops who served at Gallipoli and to prohibit the acceptance by British Army personnel of any dominion decoration awarded for that operation. Indeed, concerned that if the Gallipoli award went ahead "it will become logically impossible to refuse special decorations for every kind of operation", the Army Council suggested that the criteria for awards based on service overseas within specific dates rather than participation in specific military operations would perhaps be a better solution.

On 16 May 1918, the QMG addressed the subject of manufacture of the Gallipoli Star, in collaboration with the New Zealand Government, in a minute to the Secretary for Defence. Meanwhile action was being taken, through the Australian Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes), then in London, to expedite a British Government decision. When the Imperial Conference discussed the subject on 15 July 1918,the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand were insistent on a decoration purely for their men who served in Gallipoli. 

The British Adjutant-General then arranged a conference which resulted in an agreement, that an identical "Imperial Decoration" could be awarded by each dominion and Newfoundland under conditions drawn up by each dominion but as far as possible to be analogous with those of the British "1914 Star" i.e. in terms of limiting the number of men who would be eligible for such an award.

However Canada took the view that they wanted no special decoration; what was good enough for the bulk of the British Forces was good enough for the Canadians, a view apparently echoed by South Africa. A cablegram dated 28 July 1918 from Mr. Hughes indicated 'Re Gallipoli Medal (sic) -matter finally settled yesterday." This resulted in a follow-up for elaboration to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on or about 20 August 1918.

Meanwhile Lt-Gen Birdwood had written to the Secretary for Defence on 12 August 1918, enclosing a copy of the draft Army Order which was proposed to be issued by the Army Council. He indicated that Newfoundland forces were now to be included with the Australian and New Zealand Forces for purposes of the award of the Gallipoli Star. Further he advised a review of the conditions for the award to include 

"those who were employed on the lines of communication to Gallipoli outside Egypt, who were, whilst on transports, often subject to shelling from the peninsula, to attacks from submarines and to aeroplane bombing attacks whilst on the adjacent islands. Under no circumstances however do I think the award should be extended to those who did not embark from Egypt to take part in the Gallipoli operations".

Lt-Gen Birdwood sought Defence HQ action to have the conditions of the award extended accordingly if his view was concurred in. A cablegram from Lt. Gen Birdwood to Defence HQ on 17 August 1918 emphasised a degree of urgency in reaching a decision on his advice regarding extension of the award "as keen desire here for very early publication Order". 

The inclusion of Newfoundland forces in the award resulted in a flurry of cablegrams in the period 13-16 August 1918 in which the Prime Minister of Newfoundland expressed a strong desire to have the central blue strip of the ribbon changed to white, then accepted the original blue.

There was a relatively quick response to Lt-Gen Birdwood's communications of 12 and 17 August 1918. On or about 21 August 1918 a cablegram was dispatched to the Secretary of State for the Colonies recommending extension of the award in terms of Lt-Gen Birdwood's advice. At the same time a further cablegram was dispatched to Mr. Hughes, still in London indicating the action taken. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, responding on 23 August 1918 to an Australian cable of 11 May 1918, indicated that: 

"Alternative designs for Gallipoli Star and riband have been submitted to His Majesty and that preferred by him has been approved by Prime Minister of the Commonwealth and Prime Minister of New Zealand.... Regulations governing award of decoration ... still under discussion."

The apparent closeness of the decision on the award was reflected by the Comdt AIF HQ London, with a letter to Defence HQ Melbourne dated 30 August 1918, enclosing 15 yards of the "Gallipoli Medal ribbon", but indicating that the authority for the issue had not at that stage been published. The ribbon was forwarded in anticipation that the order would be issued by the time the letter and enclosure reached the Secretary for Defence.

While negotiations between the Australian, New Zealand and British Governments had been moving towards finality regarding the design of the star and ribbon, and the conditions for award, concern had been expressed as early as 13 December I917 in the House of Commons on the status of recognition for British troops who had also served in Gallipoli. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) of the House of Commons for sessions 1917-1919 show that questions on the subject of British troops receiving the Gallipoli Star were raised on a relatively frequent basis, and a number of times in October 1918. It is understood that similar concerns were expressed from time to time in the British press. 

The Melbourne Argus of 6 September 1918 and the Sydney Daily Telegraph of 7 September 1918 both reported that the Manchester City Council had carried a resolution protesting against the "Gallipoli Medal" not being issued to Lancashire and other British troops, when it was being given to the Anzacs. The Secretary of the NSW Branch of the (then) RSSILA (now RSL) wrote to the Acting Prime Minister (The Hon William Alex Watt) quoting the Telegraph report and seeking representations to the British authorities to remove the anomaly "which will exist, if one section of troops merits distinction for doing what some thousands of other troops also did; that same privilege should also be accorded them".

On 5 November 1918, in the House of Commons, Sir H. Greenwood asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he was aware that Australian and New Zealand troops in France who had served in Gallipoli had expressed dissatisfaction that British troops who had served in Gallipoli were not to receive the "Gallipoli Medal". Further he asked whether the Under-Secretary was aware that great numbers of those troops entitled to that decoration had signified their determination not to wear it until it was extended to the British troops who had fought alongside them. 

Meanwhile, the War Cabinet agreed on 17 September 1918 to establish a committee to consider the question and o recommend a practical solution to the problem. In outline the committee considered that the award of a special decoration for the operations in Gallipoli would create serious anomalies. It proposed the creation of a "1914/15 Star" to be available to both the British Army and to the Dominion forces, which would therefore cover the greater part of the Gallipoli operation, as well as other notable operations in other theatres. Subsequent discussions with the Dominions led to the extension of the end date for the award to 31 December 1915. On 16 October 1918 the Secretary of State for the Colonies cabled the Australian Government. The opening paragraph of the cable read: 

"Serious difficulties have arisen owing to strong objection taken not only by members of Parliament and Press here, but by Dominion troops themselves to the issue of decorations to the Dominion troops serving in Gallipoli which cannot be conferred on their British comrades who shared the dangers and hardships. Extension of this decoration would involve even more serious anomalies, for demands for issue of indefinite number of further campaign decorations would become irresistible".

The cable went on to propose a 1914/15 Star (the 1914 Star with the same ribbon but bearing the years 1914-15 inscribed instead describing the envisaged conditions for award and highlighting its advantages. As a concession to the Australian and New Zealand Governments, in an awareness of the great importance attached to service in Gallipoli, it was proposed that in the event of adoption of the proposal (1914/15 Star) a special clasp on that war medal should be given for Gallipoli. 

On 14 November 1918 the Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. McPherson) made a statement to the House of Commons which, in essence, indicated that agreement had been reached by all governments concerned that a 1914/15 Star would be awarded to recognise service prior to 31 December 1915 at sea and in theatres of war, including Gallipoli. The Australian Government's decision was reflected in a response to a Parliamentary question by Mr. Hector Lamond, Member for Illawarra, on 10 December 1918. The Assistant Minister for Defence, Mr. Wise, indicated in the House of Representatives on 16 December 1918, that the proposal subject of the Secretary of State for the Colonies cable of 16 October 1918 had been adopted, and elaborated on the various considerations involved. 

On 8 June 1920, the Prime Minister of New Zealand wrote to the Prime Minister of Australia re-opening the question of the Gallipoli Star and seeking his views on the subject. The Australian reply alluded to the special clasp offered in the Secretary of State for the Colonies cable of 16 October 1918, and suggested that the final report of the Battle Clasps Committee, established by the British Government, be awaited and considered before taking any further action. 

On 2 July 1923, the Secretary of State for the Colonies informed tie Governor-General of Australia that, in view of the (then) financial stringency, the Army Council had decided not to proceed with the proposal to issue battle clasps for the "Great War". A specialist in decorations and service medals has advised however that the Battle Clasps Committee had determined that the introduction of battle clasps was impracticable due to the complexities of delineation of battles and units involved therein, and in effect recommended that no clasps be awarded.

The Turkish Government did not issue a special Gallipoli Star to its forces involved in the  Gallipoli Campaign, notwithstanding the implication in the entry "Turkish Star for  Gallipoli Campaign" in Ribbons and Medals by H Taprell-Dorling.  The Turkish Embassy in  Canberra has advised that the decoration referred to was in fact the "Ottoman War  Decoration", introduced by Sultan Mehmet V in 1914 for war service. Participants in the  Gallipoli Campaign including Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish Commander, received this award. More detail

Since World War I a number of efforts have been made to introduce a medal or medal-ribbon clasp to commemorate the Gallipoli campaign. 

• These included: 
  • in 1919 and later in 1937, as a Coronation gesture, a proposal by Mr. W C M Prosser,  Secretary of the British Ex-Cavalrymen's Association in Sydney, for a Gallipoli medal for  all British and Dominion troops;
  • many individual submissions to Federal members of Parliament, Ministers and Prime Ministers; 
  • in the year leading up to Anzac Day 1950 (the 35th Anniversary of the landing), a  proposal for the Gallipoli Star as designed in 1918 to be granted by the Australian Government to those Australians who had served in Gallipoli;
  • a submission by the NSW Branch of the Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs to the Prime Minister in 1962, followed by further representations in 1964 and 1965; 
  • from 1962 to 1966, increasing pressure by way of  Private Members Bills and Parliamentary Questions for the striking of a special medal or the Gallipoli Star itself to mark the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign 
  • and the Private Member's Bill (Member for Capricornia, Mr. Gray) introduced into Parliament on 17 May 1962, causing questions to be addressed to the Head AJSS London. He was to  seek reactions by the appropriate British authorities so proposals raised by the Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs on the "Anzac Medal" (in fact the "Gallipoli Star"), as well as the proposed clasp to the 1914/15 Star. 

Background information on how the British Government dealt with the 1914-18 War medal proposals and reasons for their abandonment were also to be sought. The very comprehensive reply elaborated on the reasons for abandonment of the Star and clasp discussed previously. At the same time the reaction of the New Zealand Government was sought the reply, through the Deputy High Commissioner, supported the British, Australian and New Zealand positions taken previously. (There is no indication on file of how the Bill was disposed of, but it was not passed). 

The Private Member's Bill (again the Member for Capricornia, Mr. Gray) introduced into Parliament in March 1965 was defeated, but resulted in a range of consultations involving in the main Cabinet and a special group of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, and the Member for Capricornia. In addition, the matter of a clasp for the 1914/15 Star was re-opened with the British authorities, through the Australian High Commissioner, to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. No change in position resulted. Various options considered included that of the issue of a distinguishing clasp for the 1914/15 Star, and lapel badges comprising either the Australian Army Badge, or unit colour patches, both with the letter "A" (for Anzac) superimposed. 

A commemorative medallion was also considered, and following New Zealand Government agreement, was formally adopted. The Prime Minister discussed likely designs with representatives of the RSL and the Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs during the latter half of 1965. As foreshadowed by the Minister for Defence in answering a question in the Parliament on 24 March 1966, the Prime Minister announced in Parliament on 16 March 1967 that the Australian Government, in consultation with the New Zealand Government, had completed arrangements for the production and issue of a Gallipoli Medallion and Badge to veterans of that campaign, and the Medallion to next of kin or other entitled persons if their relative died on active service or had since died.

This action, it appears, was intended to satisfy the continuing demand for recognition of Australian and New Zealand service in Gallipoli, at the same time not conflicting directly with the concerns expressed in 1918 regarding the issue of the Gallipoli Star. It appears that even with the Gallipoli Medallion, there was still a range of opinion, through the RSL and Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs, regarding eligibility for the award; the restrictive viewpoint would have limited issue of the Medallion to those who had actually served in Gallipoli, the opposite viewpoint saw issue to all who were qualified to wear the brass "A" on the colour patch in terms of Defence HQ cable WV430 of 9 January 1918 (see above). 

There was also a smaller lapel badge issued with the medallion, but only to surviving Anzacs. (The medallion was available to Next of Kin). It was a circular bronze badge surmounted by the Queen's crown.  The obverse shows a portrayal of Simpson and his donkey assisting a wounded man, a laurel wreath, the date '1915' and the word 'ANZAC'. The reverse has an attachment clip and is engraved with the name of the recipient.  This badge is slightly buckled and shows signs of extensive use. The oxidised finish has mostly been polished off, leaving a shiny finish. AWM image and text.

Representations for the issue of a medal for service in Gallipoli have continued since, and notwithstanding the issue of the Gallipoli Medallion. In 1975, Mr. A J Grassby wrote to the Minister for Defence and Mr. L A Kane of Ryde NSW wrote to the Prime Minister. In 1981, Mr. C W Howe of Bridgeport NSW wrote to the Minister for Administrative Services. 

The  responses to each of these letters, inter alia, indicated that the issue of a special medal to Australian and New Zealand, troops who served would be unfair to the other Empire troops who had also served in Gallipoli, and that the issue of the 1914/15 Star to all troops who have served in Gallipoli logically precluded issue of a second medal for the purpose of recognising  the same service. It was suggested that the issue of the Gallipoli Medallion and Badge in 1967 was an appropriate action to recognise participation in the campaign, given the circumstances relating to the issue of medals above.

On 13 September 1951, the General Secretary of the (then) RSSAILA wrote to the Minister for Defence (Mr. McBride) concerning an Executive resolution passed at its September meeting; it requested that Royal assent be obtained for personnel who served in Gallipoli to wear a miniature "A" on the 1914/15 Star ribbon. 

• The Minister's reply (of 15 November 1951)  indicated that, inter alia: 
  • "the 1914/15 Star was an Empire award, whereas the brass letter "A" was an Australian symbol authorised for wear on the colour patches of those who had taken part in the Gallipoli operations; 
  • the wearing of a miniature "A" on the 1914/15 Star would accord a special recognition to Australian troops, in relation to an Empire award which did not, by clasps, distinguish particular campaigns; and these matters were fully considered and determined after World War I. 

This proposal was re-examined during the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of the landing in 1965. It involved semi-official enquiries through the Australian High Commissioner in London to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (see above), and official correspondence with the New Zealand High Commissioner in Canberra. The results re-affirmed the previously advised policy. 

The desire for the recognition of Australian and New Zealand volunteers of 1914 along with their British counterparts was inextricably linked with their commitment to the Gallipoli campaign and other Australian and New Zealand volunteers of 1915. Eventually, the Gallipoli campaign, of singular national importance to both Australia and New Zealand, became the focus for recognition of the troops involved by the introduction of the Gallipoli Star proposal. This discriminated however against the British and other troops who had served alongside them during that campaign. 

The issue of the 1914/15 Star overcame this discrimination and in effect precluded the issue of a second medal to recognise the same service; this did not however satisfy Australian and New Zealand desires for recognition of the Gallipoli campaign from national viewpoint. The introduction of the Gallipoli Medallion and Badge in 1967 went as far as was practicable in redressing this situation without directly conflicting with the issues which caused the demise of the Gallipoli Star as an Australian and New Zealand Government award. 

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Graveyards of Gallipoli:  a Tribute to the Men of all the Nations that took part in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915